Getting Started on VELETRI® (epoprostenol) for Injection

VELETRI is usually delivered by a specialty pharmacy—it’s not something that’s kept in stock at your local pharmacy. The following is a typical process when starting out with VELETRI, but your experience may vary.

Prescription

Your doctor selects VELETRI as your new treatment.

Your healthcare team completes all the forms necessary to start you on the Actelion medicine

Insurance verification

The insurance company may ask your healthcare provider for additional information before they pay for your medicine.

The specialty pharmacy will contact you or your healthcare team if they need more information

First treatment

Your healthcare team will start your first treatment in a hospital.

Delivery of medicine

VELETRI is shipped to you by a specialty pharmacy.

The shipment is usually quick, but the process leading up to your first delivery could take up to 2 weeks or more

Before shipping, the specialty pharmacy will call you to confirm some details, including the shipment date. Be sure to answer, or call the specialty pharmacy back if they leave a message

What is the most important information I should know about VELETRI?

It is important to use VELETRI as directed by your doctor. VELETRI should be used only with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP. Do not mix VELETRI with other intravenous medications. Each vial is for single use only; discard any unused medication. Use at room temperature (77°F/25°C). Do not expose VELETRI to direct sunlight.

What is VELETRI® (epoprostenol) for Injection?

VELETRI is a prescription medicine that is given intravenously (in a vein). It is used to treat adults with certain kinds of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1), a condition in which blood pressure is too high in the blood vessels between the heart and the lungs. VELETRI may improve your ability to exercise as measured by how far you can walk in 6 minutes (6-minute walk test).

What is the most important information I should know about VELETRI?

It is important to use VELETRI as directed by your doctor. VELETRI should be used only with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, or Sodium Chloride 0.9% Injection, USP. Do not mix VELETRI with other intravenous medications. Each vial is for single use only; discard any unused medication. Use at room temperature (77°F/25°C). Do not expose VELETRI to direct sunlight.

When you take epoprostenol for the first time, you must be in a setting (hospital or clinic) where you can be monitored for any serious side effects or in case of emergency. Your blood pressure and heart rate should also be monitored with any dose changes. If you are taking VELETRI, your doctor may prescribe another kind of medicine used to prevent blood clots. It is the use of these medications concomitantly (in combination) with VELETRI that may potentially cause an increase in the risk of bleeding.

Sudden and dramatic changes in dose may lead to unstable blood pressure, a return of pulmonary hypertension symptoms, or fatal low blood pressure (hypotension). Do not stop using VELETRI without first talking to your doctor.

To reduce the risk of infection in the bloodstream, it is important to know how to properly care for the catheter and infusion pump.

What are the possible side effects of VELETRI?

You may have side effects at the start of treatment or with dose increases. The most common side effects seen in at least 1% of patients were flushing, headache, nausea/vomiting, low blood pressure, anxiety/nervousness, chest pain, dizziness, slow heartbeat, abdominal pain, pain in the muscles and/or ligaments and bones, shortness of breath, back pain, sweating, upset stomach, numbness/increased sensitivity, and fast heartbeat.

The most common side effects in patients with PAH due to unidentified or hereditary factors with at least 10% difference between the group that received epoprostenol and the group that received conventional therapy alone were flu-like symptoms, fast heartbeat, flushing, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, jaw pain, pain in the muscles and/or ligaments and bones, anxiety/nervousness, dizziness, headache, and numbness/increased sensitivity/tingling.

What is VELETRI® (epoprostenol) for Injection?

VELETRI is a prescription medicine that is given intravenously (in a vein). It is used to treat adults with certain kinds of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group 1), a condition in which blood pressure is too high in the blood vessels between the heart and the lungs. VELETRI may improve your ability to exercise as measured by how far you can walk in 6 minutes (6-minute walk test).

Studies showing VELETRI is effective included mainly patients with NYHA Functional Class III-IV PAH. In these patients, PAH was caused by unidentified or hereditary factors or connective tissue disease.

Who should not take VELETRI?

VELETRI should not be used if you have heart failure due to severe left heart disease, if you develop fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) when starting therapy, or if you are allergic to epoprostenol.

Some medications may interact with VELETRI. Please talk to your doctor about all of your medications.

The most common side effects in patients with PAH due to connective tissue disease with at least 10% difference between the group that received epoprostenol and the group that received conventional therapy alone were flushing, low blood pressure, lack of appetite, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, jaw pain, neck/joint pain, headache, skin ulcer, and rash.

Talk to your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of VELETRI. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

You are now leaving the Actelion Pathways® website

Actelion offers this link to the third-party website as a courtesy to the Internet community and is not responsible for any content published on the third-party website you are about to enter. Actelion has not reviewed and does not endorse any information presented on the third-party website. Please see the Terms and Conditions for more information.